Animation.pause()

This is an experimental technology
Check the Browser compatibility table carefully before using this in production.

The pause() method of the Web Animations API's Animation interface suspends playback of the animation.

Syntax

animation.pause();

Parameters

None.

Return value

None.

Exceptions

InvalidStateError
The animation's currentTime is unresolved (for example, if it's never been played or isn't currently playing) and the end time of the animation is positive infinity.

Throws an InvalidStateError if the animation's currentTime is unresolved (perhaps it hasn't started playing yet) and the end time of the animation is positive infinity.

Example

Animation.pause() is used many times in the Alice in Web Animations API Land Growing/Shrinking Alice Game, largely because animations created with the Element.animate() method immediately start playing and must be paused manually if you want to avoid that:

// animation of the cupcake slowly getting eaten up
var nommingCake = document.getElementById('eat-me_sprite').animate(
[
  { transform: 'translateY(0)' },
  { transform: 'translateY(-80%)' }   
], {
  fill: 'forwards',
  easing: 'steps(4, end)',
  duration: aliceChange.effect.timing.duration / 2
});

// doesn't actually need to be eaten until a click event, so pause it initially:
nommingCake.pause();

Additionally, when resetting :

// An all-purpose function to pause the animations on Alice, the cupcake, and the bottle that reads "drink me."
var stopPlayingAlice = function() {
  aliceChange.pause();
  nommingCake.pause();
  drinking.pause();
};

// When the user releases the cupcake or the bottle, pause the animations.
cake.addEventListener("mouseup", stopPlayingAlice, false);
bottle.addEventListener("mouseup", stopPlayingAlice, false);

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
Web Animations
The definition of 'play()' in that specification.
Working Draft

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
pause
Experimental
Chrome Full support 39Edge Full support ≤79Firefox Full support 48
Full support 48
No support 46 — 48
Disabled
Disabled From version 46 until version 48 (exclusive): this feature is behind the dom.animations-api.core.enabled preference (needs to be set to true). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.
IE No support NoOpera Full support 26Safari No support NoWebView Android Full support 39Chrome Android Full support 39Firefox Android Full support 48
Full support 48
No support 46 — 48
Disabled
Disabled From version 46 until version 48 (exclusive): this feature is behind the dom.animations-api.core.enabled preference (needs to be set to true). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.
Opera Android Full support 26Safari iOS No support NoSamsung Internet Android Full support 4.0

Legend

Full support
Full support
No support
No support
Experimental. Expect behavior to change in the future.
Experimental. Expect behavior to change in the future.
User must explicitly enable this feature.
User must explicitly enable this feature.

See also